(CNN) - Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, frequently mentioned as a possible running mate for Mitt Romney, floated the idea of debating with Vice President Joe Biden and said she would find the situation "quite enjoyable."

In an interview with the Boston Herald published Tuesday, the junior senator said she "would love" to go head-to-head with Biden on the rising federal debt.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

"The vice president does have a way with words," Ayotte joked, according the paper, referring to Biden's reputation for making gaffes on the campaign trail.

Her comments came ahead of the vice president's visit Tuesday to New Hampshire, where he's expected to make a campaign speech on the economy.

"Let's face it, he has got a very different vision of this country than I do," she said. "I think Joe Biden's vision is one of big government. We've seen that that doesn't work."

Ayotte has frequently stumped for Romney this cycle, making several appearances with the candidate prior to her state's January primary. More recently, she introduced Romney at a campaign event in New Hampshire at the end of April.

With strong conservative credentials and a key position in an important state, some political observers speculate she could be on the candidate's list of possible running mates.

Her biggest disadvantage, former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu argued, is geography. Because she and Romney are from both from the northeast, she may not offer as much appeal to bigger swing states, the Romney surrogate told reporters last month.

While many potential VP contenders often attempt to push back on running mate talk, Ayotte's comments are the latest in a string of remarks signaling she may be eying the gig.

Earlier this month, she made headlines when she said in a television interview that she had "better experience" than Obama did during his 2008 run for president.

And in the Herald interview this week, she admitted she liked one of the paper's headlines earlier this year that named her as a potential running mate choice. She said her "family purchased multiple copies" of the paper.

soundoff(40 Responses)

James Mason

Kelly could always do her job by OUR STATE – and ask for a debate with Senator Shaheen ON THE ISSUES IN THE SENATE.

May 22, 2012 02:14 pm at 2:14 pm |

Marcy

The new Sarah Palin. What a ditz! Doesn't she get it that alexithymic Mitt is "floating" her out there" to see if she sticks? She won't secure the women voters, either, the way senile McCain thought Palin would in 2008. Mitt's going with the oatmeal guy, Porter, and Ayotte is just making a fool out of heresef or acting as the useful idiot.

May 22, 2012 02:16 pm at 2:16 pm |

Jon

A drunken monkey would probably enjoy debating Biden. The guy is the dumbest SOB to be vice president in decades.

May 22, 2012 02:29 pm at 2:29 pm |

J

All of the VPs in any election, dems or republicans are floated out there first Marcy. I'm not sure how that makes her or Palin a ditz. Although I do love how any mention of a female republican makes you liberals go nuts, especial Palin.

May 22, 2012 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |

Woman In California

It sounds like "someone" feels she won't have job in her state soon.....wonder why?

May 22, 2012 02:36 pm at 2:36 pm |

Corporations of America

big government doesn't work? Tell that to Reagan, Bush and Bush who all grew the government. And of course besides growing government they also increased the national deficit. And let's not forget the national deficit went up for increased millitary spending. so besides making government and the national deficit larger, they also made the pockets of defense companies and contractors larger. but rather than scaling back on defense spending and raising taxes to pay for the increased war spending she thinks we should just take from social security, medicare and the poor. I just don't understand how republicans think.

May 22, 2012 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

Dave

So we have another loudmouth Republican who loves to hear herself talk, but she doesn't present any sort of actual plan or details. Reminds me another idiot Republican from Alaska...

May 22, 2012 02:40 pm at 2:40 pm |

s

Anotherr back woods FREAK, better check to make sure she is not related to Palin or Bachmann

May 22, 2012 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

J

A Roman Catholic with only 2 children? That will NEVER serve her well when it comes to insurance companies providing birth control through an employer for women so that they can limit the amount of children they have in order to become successful in life.

May 22, 2012 02:41 pm at 2:41 pm |

Luke,AZ

No more Sarah Palins, the Republican Party is the most dysfunctional organization in America.

May 22, 2012 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |

The REAL Truth...

@Jon – A drunken monkey would probably enjoy debating Biden. The guy is the dumbest SOB to be vice president in decades.
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When you have served your state (Delaware) in the Senate for 36 yrs BEFORE being asked to be VP, then you MIGHT be qualified to make that judgement. Until then, let other teatards like Ayotte (who really should stay home) make the challenge.

May 22, 2012 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |

The REAL Truth...

@J – I'm not sure how that makes her or Palin a ditz. Although I do love how any mention of a female republican makes you liberals go nuts, especial Palin.
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Of course they go nuts.. they're all trying to figure out how many cars can be parked in the space between their ears. Palin, Bachmann and now Ayotte – all W-A-Y out right, clueless and completely meaningless in the overall scheme. How does an intelligent individual react to a spouting teatard who abdicated their governorship half-way thru – to [allegedly] avoid possible criminal charges being filed against them? Not well.. And this is the cream of the GOBP crop ?
We've got a problem Houston!

May 22, 2012 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |

John

What evidence do you have that she is a ditz? She is very well spoken, has a BA from Penn State, a law degree, been the Assistant DA, and while being the NH State Attorney, successfully prosecuted two capital murder cases. What have you done in your life that allows you to accuse someone else of baing a ditz, especially with that resume?

If she was so smart, she'll see that Mitt is just using her because he need the women votes. Biden will eat her for lunch.

May 22, 2012 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

judy

Joe cares about the little guy as has always been a patriot serving his stae for years. He may make some gaffs but he is no flip flopper and has more knowledge than the tea bagging tart that thinks she should debate him.